Tuesday Notes on the Rangers

February 10th, 2010 | by Brandon Wilson |

Note: In his second in a series of “Mysteries of the Spring” Evan Grant asks why the Texas Rangers are looking at C.J. Wilson as a starter. Need to Know: Grant makes the point that Wilson has been a tremendous asset in the bullpen, but has not shown the characteristics that make a good starter. Namely, his pitch efficiency. Wilson averaged 17.6 pitches per inning last year and has averaged near that for his career. Grant tells us that no starter in the AL with at least 150 IP averaged as much as 17.5. In fact, best I can tell, Andy Pettitte was highest among qualified starters with 16.88 per inning. However, in the NL, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, two young strikeout pitchers, averaged 17.7 and 18.0 per inning respectively. Wilson struck out 84 batters in 73.2 IP in 2009 and part of what he sacrificed to get that ratio was efficiency. Unlike Grant, I believe some pitchers are capable of changing the way they pitch to suit the situation. I agree that if Wilson takes the same approach to the mound that he took as a reliever he will be just as inefficient and not likely to be successful. However, unlike most relievers, Wilson can work with multiple pitches and if he approaches the game with a starter’s mindset (not every out needs to be a strikeout) he has the pitches to full batters the second and third time they see him in a game. I definitely think Wilson could be successful as a starter, but the Rangers have many options to fill the starting rotation and might be better off having Wilson in the pen where his strikeout plus per inning can shut down the other team in the late innings.

Note: Richard Durrett continues his preview by position today looking at second base. Need to Know: Ian Kinsler is projected to be the second baseman for the Rangers. Just kidding, actually Durrett discusses Kinsler’s poor average and on-base percentage and retells the story from last week about Young saying Kinsler is his favorite player (because of his drive to be better). As an observer of the team, I think last year’s offense slumped because Kinsler, Hamilton and Davis tried to do too much and is often the case when hitters press, the results were bad. That trio are all still very young and learned from the experience and I expect all three to be better this season as a result. Add in a little veteran juice from Vladimir Guerrero and energy from second year players Julio Borbon and Elvis Andrus and this could an explosive lineup.

Note: Over at Baseball Time in Arlington, David Brown previews the bullpens of the AL West. Need to Know: Using CHONE projections Brown figures the A’s to have the best bullpen and the Rangers second with the Mariners and Angels falling well below the top two teams. Honestly, I guess using CHONE is as good as anything, but relief pitching is historically difficult to project. Just look at last year. Where would the Ranger bullpen have been without Darren O’Day, yet CHONE projected O’Day to be below average, projecting Bryan Corey and Jimmy Gobble to be as good. It is comforting to know that a neutral projection system rates the team’s bullpen favorably and ultimately, the depth of pitching the Rangers have assembled appears to be as good as any team in the division which should allow them to assemble a quality rotation and bullpen.

Note: Tom Hicks says he put $85 million of his own money in to cover operating expenses for the Stars and Rangers. Need to Know: We only have to hear about these stories for another couple of months.